Are you slowly ticking off the things to organize for your big move? Hopefully, everything has gone smoothly for you in getting a visa and lining up what you need for dealing with the bureaucracy in Italy.

Another important item to consider is your driver’s License.

Do you need an international license?

YES! There is a one-year grace period from the start of your visa for transferring to or obtaining an Italian license. Until then, you need to have a valid International Driving Permit (IDL) in the unfortunate event that the carabinieri or polizia stop you for a routine traffic check or something more serious. At minimum, you will be fined if you do not have an IDL with your original license.

Can anyone transfer their license to an Italian one?

Sadly, NO. Fortunately for the British, despite Brexit, an agreement has been reached so that you can simply do some paperwork to transfer your license to an Italian one. Unfortunately for Americans, there is so no such option regardless of what state you previously resided in.

How do I get an Italian license if I cannot transfer it?

Disappointingly, the main way is to take the test like an Italian. This involves passing a 100-question exam in Italian (no English options are available) with an 80% or better, and a practical driving test after accruing a sufficient number of practice hours with a local driving school. This takes time, especially if your language skills are not up to par.

Of course, there are other roundabout ways that cannot be promoted in good faith to the Italian system for the patente B di guida (Driver’s License category B).

Once I have my Italian driving license, am I good to hit the road?

For the most part, YES. If you have transferred your license without any extra requirements, then you can hit the road! Lucky you! If you obtained your license via the process, then you’ll have some restrictions for the first year.

You can learn more about getting an Italian driver’s license in Umbria on a Whim: Volume 1 The Basics – an Insider’s Guide for Moving to Umbria.

The post Umbria On a Whim – The Basics: Driving in Italy appeared first on AnyExpat.